Staying true to our Exceptional Emerald Value, Emerald Waterways has partnered with a well-known global insurance company to offer, for the first time, river cruising travel insurance on European River Cruises.

On every Emerald Waterways river cruise you’ll be automatically covered once you commence your cruise for any delays or cancellations that occur due to weather, natural disasters, mechanical breakdowns or strikes. There’s nothing extra to pay, we automatically cover you in the price you pay for your cruise.

Our river cruising cover is designed to give you comfort and assurance for certain events which prevent you from cruising, and are not considered typical or usual to river cruising. Our river cruising cover is designed to insure for unforeseen events rather than minor delays or deviations.

We appreciate that you’ve invested a lot in your holiday with us and we want to ensure that we provide you with peace of mind when traveling with Emerald Waterways. In the event that a claim is required, instead of the industry standard of future cruise credits, you will be refunded in cash.

What is classed as an unforeseen event?

A complete halt to your itinerary where the ship is unable to sail and we are unable to deliver your on shore excursions except by way of coach rides of greater than 3 hours each way

Where we have the ability to accommodate you on another Emerald Star-Ship due to high/low water but your itinerary is delayed more than 24 hours

If there is a mechanical breakdown on the ship that results in it not being able to continue the cruise and there are no alternative ships available

If due to industrial action we are not able to pass through a lock and your cruise can not continue

In these circumstances, depending on the level of your Tour and the specific circumstances, you will be paid up to a maximum amount for each full 24 hour period from the start of the delay or cancellation up to a maximum of $7000 CAD(or seven (7) consecutive 24 hour periods) or the originally scheduled end date of your tour, whichever is the lesser.

What is classed as a normal disruption and is therefore not covered?

If high water levels prohibit the sailing of the ship for an afternoon but we are able to make it under the bridge that evening and deliver you to your scheduled disembarkation place the following day

If we swap ships due to high/low water and the ship swap takes less than 6 hours to complete

If we embark/disembark the ship less than 100 kilometers from your scheduled point of embarkation

If we have to make alternate arrangement for any itinerary activities. For example, if due to prevailing conditions we are not able to attend Melk Abbey and we select a replacement of similar quality, this will not constitute an event of delay.

We will not pay for claims arising directly or indirectly from:

Consequential loss of any kind including loss of enjoyment or any financial loss not specifically covered in the Policy;

Minor or typical delays experienced on the waterways;
War, invasion, act of foreign enemy, hostilities (whether war be declared or not), Civil War, rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military or usurped power;

Any loss or expense with respect to Cuba or a specially designated person, entity, group or company on the Specially Designated List or which if reimbursed or paid by Us would result in Us being in breach of trade or economic sanctions or other such similar laws or regulations;

Any nuclear reaction or contamination, ionising rays or radioactivity;

Any Goods and Services Tax (GST) liability or any fine, charge or penalty You are liable for because of a failure to fully disclose to Us Your input tax credit entitlement for the premium.

More information

Emerald Waterways have partnered with Chubb, a global insurance company, to offer river cruise travel insurance for the first time.

On every Emerald Waterways European river cruise, you will automatically be covered from the commencement of your cruise for any delays or cancellations that occur due to unforeseen circumstances. There's nothing extra to pay, we automatically cover you in the price of your cruise.

We understand that you have invested a lot in your Emerald Waterways holiday, and our river cruise cover is designed to give you peace of mind and allow you to enjoy your time on board, safe in the knowledge that you are covered in the event of anything not considered typical or usual to river cruising.

*Please note: Our River Cruise Cover only applies to Europe river cruises.